Verbena plant named ‘Wesverscar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Wesverscar’, characterized by its cascading, roughly spherical plant habit; ovate to deltoid-shaped leaves; freely flowering habit; compact and spherical inflorescences; and intense dark red-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Verbena hybrida cultivar Wesverscar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Wesverscar’.

The new Verbena is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the program is to create new Verbena cultivars with cascading growth habit and attractive flower colors.

The new Verbena originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor of a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 99FAT8, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 99FAT13, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Verbena was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within the resultant progeny from the above-mentioned cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany, since 2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wesverscar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wesverscar’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Cascading, roughly spherical plant habit.     -   2. Ovate to deltoid-shaped leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Compact and spherical inflorescences.     -   5. Intense dark red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have orange-red colored flowers. In addition, the inflorescences of the new Verbena have more but smaller flowers than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the male parent selection have smaller flowers than plants of the new Verbena. In addition, plants of the new Verbena have longer lateral branches and smaller leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the cultivar Wesverdark, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,847. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Wesverdark differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were not as compact as plants of         the cultivar Wesverdark.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had smaller leaves than plants of         the cultivar Wesverdark.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Wesverdark         differed in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Verbena can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Scarlena, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,578. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Verbena and the cultivar Scarlena differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena had longer lateral branches than         plants of the cultivar Scarlena.     -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had broader leaves and larger         petioles than plants of the cultivar Scarlena.     -   3. Plants of the new Verbena had taller inflorescences than         plants of the cultivar Scarlena.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Verbena.

The photograph at the left of the sheet comprises a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Wesverscar’.

The photograph at the right of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Wesverscar’ grown in a patio container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Wesverrose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Südlohn, Germany, under commercial practice during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures ranging from 20 to 25° C. and night temperatures ranging from 16 to 18° C. Cuttings were planted in 12-cm containers, pinched one time about two weeks after planting, and had been growing for about 20 weeks when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida cultivar Wesverscar. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena             hybrida identified as code number 99FAT8, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Verbena             hybrida identified as code number 99FAT13, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 to 14 days at 18° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 21 to 23 days at 18° C.         -   Root description.—Fine.         -   Rooting habit.—Vigorous, freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Compact, outwardly spreading and trailing plant habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and freely-branching             with the potential for two lateral branches to develop at             every node after pinching.         -   Plant height.—About 12 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 50 to 60 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 33.2 cm. Diameter: About             1.8 mm. Internode length: About 4.7 cm. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length:             About 4.3 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Ovate to deltoid.             Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate to dentate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Leathery, dull;             pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and             fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and             fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B. Venation, upper             surface: 147B to 147C. Venation: lower surface: 147C.             Petiole: Length: About 8.2 mm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm.             Color: 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single upright salverform flowers             arranged on terminal racemes. Inflorescences compact and             spherical in shape. Freely flowering with about 26 flowers             and flower buds per raceme; about two racemes per lateral             branch. Inflorescence is positioned above and beyond the             foliage. Individual flowers last about two to four days             under greenhouse conditions. Petals self cleaning; calyx and             flower stalks persistent. Flowers sessile.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous             from spring until fall.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5.4 cm. Height: About             3.4 cm.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Height: About 2.1 cm.             Tube length: About 1.8 cm. Throat diameter: About 2.3 mm.             Tube diameter, at base: About 1.4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 to             5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: Towards the base, 146B; towards             the mid-section, 145C; towards the apex, 45A.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower fused at base.             Petal length from throat: About 7.9 mm. Petal width: About             5.9 mm. Shape: Roughly cordate. Apex: Emarginate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Velvety, smooth.             Color: When opening, upper surface: 45A to 45B. When             opening, lower surface: 45D. Fully opened, upper surface:             45B; towards the base, 73A to 73D. Fully opened, lower             surface: 45C. Throat: 145C. Tube: 145C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused into a tube.             Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.8 mm. Shape:             Ligulate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Velvety, viscid. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.4 to 3 cm. Diameter: About             1.7 mm. Strength: Wiry. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Four.             Anther shape: Two-parted, ovate. Anther length: About             1.1 mm. Anther color: 144C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: 144D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 1.3 cm. Stigma shape: Ovate. Stigma color:             146B. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary             color: 144A.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed     to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2 to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Wesverscar’, as illustrated and described. 